I Was Just Having Fun With The Time Limit – Chapter 98

Chapter 98

It was absurd.

That older brother, with his hair all messed up, let out a huge yawn, “Khaaam—”.

“Why on earth are you here?”

“Why are you here?”

“Because this is my room.”

“This is your room?”

Michael looked around, then tilted his head in genuine confusion.

“Why am I here?”

“……Indeed. Why would you be here, older brother?”

Michael burst into laughter, “Khihihi!”

“I don’t know!”

I was sure Michael wasn’t lying. That’s just his character.

He never thinks about anything, and because he never thinks about anything.

“But who’s that ajumma?”

“……”

I was startled.

No, even if that’s the case, how could he not recognize the face of Rahella, the Holy King, one of the seven rulers?

And honestly, how could that face be an ajumma?!

No matter how you look at it, she’s an unni, no, a nuna!

“Older brother! How could you be so rude to the Holy King?!”

“……Huh?”

“Apologize quickly.”

Michael frowned slightly. His lips were sticking out, seemingly feeling wronged.

“Why, what’s so rude about calling an ajumma, ajumma?”

“……”

“I wouldn’t be offended at all if you called me Michael!”

‘Calling Michael, Michael = Calling an ajumma, ajumma.’

……That was definitely his thought process.

I had absolutely no idea where to even begin explaining this.

‘Sir Lancer. When are you coming back? I have a headache.’

Sir Lancer had shown no signs of returning since he left on his business trip.

Fortunately, older sister Rahella didn’t seem particularly offended.

“You’re the same as ever.”

“Do you know me?”

“I saw you about five years ago. You called me ajumma then, too.”

“Can I ask you just one thing?”

“Sure.”

“Does it upset you when people call you ajumma?”

Older sister Rahella shrugged and shook her head.

“It’s friendly and nice, what’s wrong with it?”

Michael looked at me with a triumphant expression.

It was as if he was saying, ‘See? No problem!’

I was once again at a loss for words at his confident gaze.

Anyway, the conversation with older sister Rahella continued without a hitch.

“……So, I’d like you to come with me to the Jirdel Kingdom. The Empress has given her permission, and we can leave whenever you’re ready.”

At those words, Michael raised his hand.

“Correct!”

I had no idea why he suddenly shouted “correct”.

No one had asked a question, but Michael gave the answer.

“Michael is going too!”

“Why you?”

“Because older brother Kaman is in the Jirdel Kingdom.”

Oh, that’s right!

The Jirdel Kingdom’s military power was quite weak.

Nevertheless, the reason they could actively function as the heart of a trading kingdom was because the Jirdel Kingdom housed a base camp where the Bilotian Imperial Knights were stationed.

A subordinate unit of the ‘Black Whale’, which Chief Attendant Dailtha had commanded in the past, was stationed there, and the Third Prince, Kaman, was dispatched there.

‘Maybe I’ll get to see him if I’m lucky?’

My other sibling, whom I hadn’t seen once except during the Selection Ceremony, was there.

Older sister Rahella smiled gently.

“It seems like you really like and admire your brother.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Isn’t that why you want to go with us?”

“No, it’s not.”

Michael’s true intention was simple.

“I think I can beat him in a fight now.”

Apparently, their last duel was six months ago.

I didn’t know when he went to fight again, but he seemed full of confidence that he could now defeat his brother.

Michael was always full of energy, and today he was especially energetic. It was the most lively I had seen him in a while.

“……You’re full of confidence, older brother.”

“Of course. I’ve never lacked confidence.”

“Have you ever beaten older brother Kaman?”

“I’m going to win this time. Hehe!”

Saying he was going to win this time meant he had never won before.

In other words, it also meant that he always fought with confidence, but always lost.

“……How many times have you lost?”

“I don’t know? About thirty-something times?”

If Michael was saying thirty-something times, it was probably over a hundred.

Michael always remembered things in a way that benefited him, so he must have been downplaying the number of times he lost.

‘It’s amazing that he’s still a ball of confidence after losing a hundred times……’

Still, I cheered him on.

“……I’ll support your confidence, older brother.”

“Trust me.”

I didn’t know what he wanted me to trust, so I just said I would, and Michael laughed loudly, “Khihihihi!”, seemingly in a good mood.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

“Your Highness. I’ll take care of a few urgent matters and follow you later.”

Narmore said he had a few urgent things to take care of, so he would be joining us a little late.

Yuri said,

“I’ve packed your luggage in advance.”

Yuri had now fully taken on the appearance of a maid.

She said she was voluntarily undergoing harsh training from the Chief Attendant, and her behavior was quite similar to the Chief Attendant’s.

In truth, the maid role was just an excuse to bring Yuri along, but she was performing her role perfectly.

“Aren’t you very busy with the Yurimore Bakery?”

“No matter what anyone says, my first mission is to serve Your Highness. The bakery is temporarily closed.”

Then she subtly glanced at Narmore.

“My sense of duty is different from someone who only cares about money.”

“Hey……! I’m also doing it for Your Highness……!”

Narmore’s body trembled.

It seemed like he wanted to say more, but because I was there, he didn’t openly argue with Yuri.

‘Are they…… getting along?’

I decided to think that way and didn’t take anyone’s side.

Anyway, I left the room with Yuri.

A four-horse carriage was waiting in front of the Arena Palace.

I asked the coachman ajusshi,

“You won’t be taking any narrow roads, will you?”

The coachman ajusshi had quite a rough face and a large build.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because riding in such a luxurious carriage on narrow roads could inconvenience the common people.”

“Don’t worry. The Jirdel Kingdom is relatively close, and the roads are wide and well-maintained.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I don’t know which family’s Lady you are, but you have a very kind heart.”

There’s no way he wouldn’t know who I am.

This is the Arena Palace, and I’m the only young female royal who would come out of the Arena Palace.

‘Whose daughter is she, to have such a kind heart!’

The coachman ajusshi was strangely moved.

‘But it looks awkward.’

Overall, it felt a bit unnatural.

I knew the reason.

‘Dad is really bad at role-playing.’

Because that coachman ajusshi was my dad.

He was in disguise again after a long time, but I decided to blend well into this ‘everyone knows but everyone pretends not to know’ world.

I decided to just call this ‘Dadbus（Dad+Universe）’.

‘It’s fun to play house even though I’m eight years old?’

I didn’t know how long this kind of role-playing would be fun.

But I thought that since there would come a day when this wouldn’t be fun anymore, I should diligently enjoy the present moment.

Older brother Michael and older sister Rahella got into the carriage.

I sat next to Dad, no, the coachman ajusshi.

After taking a Transfer Gate and traveling for half a day, we arrived near the border of the Jirdel Kingdom.

Teacher Viaton was waiting there.

“Now, coachman fellow, hand over the reins to me, coachman.”

Teacher Viaton, who usually didn’t look down on coachmen, kept urging the coachman ajusshi（Dad） to hand over the reins.

Today, he had a smile that seemed like he was a victor for some reason.

It seemed like Teacher Viaton was also committed to the Dadbus.

“Oh, hurry up and hand it over, what are you doing? That seat is mine, it’s my turn now, coachman. Coachman, go back and do your coachman work, coachman! Ehahaha!”

“……”

I could feel the coachman ajusshi’s body trembling.

For some reason, it felt a bit creepy, but the feeling soon disappeared.

“Go on, coachman! It’s my time now, coachman!”

“……”

In the end, the coachman ajusshi handed over the reins, and Teacher Viaton sat next to me.

‘Why are they being so complicated?’

Why did they come here separately? It’s inefficient to move separately.

I came up with one somewhat logical reason.

‘I guess they want to keep this role-playing a secret in the Jirdel Kingdom.’

Because there’s such a thing as the Emperor’s dignity.

So, it seemed like he wanted to keep the fact that he was playing house with his daughter a secret.

“Your Highness, go inside the carriage and get some sleep. We’ll arrive in about two hours.”

“I’m not sleepy at all.”

I enjoyed the scenery outside while sitting in the coachman’s seat.

A field of silver grass stretched out to the horizon. The pleasant sound of the silver grass rustling in the wind filled the surroundings.

The air was quite cold, but the sun was shining warmly.

I looked up.

I reached out towards the soft sunlight, and it was dazzling.

‘I’m happy.’

This was an experience I couldn’t have imagined in my past life.

Being able to travel（?） like this in the early winter while feeling the wind was a true blessing.

How much time had passed?

“We’ve arrived.”

‘……Huh?’

It seemed like I had fallen asleep at some point.

I was lying with my head on Teacher Viaton’s lap.

‘When did I fall asleep?’

I wasn’t sure, but maybe Teacher Viaton had created a blanket of warm mana and covered me with it because I wasn’t cold at all.

“The entry procedure for the Jirdel Kingdom is very simple. We’ll be entering the royal palace soon. I’ve booked accommodations in advance, so we’ll rest there for a day and then head to the palace.”

Under Teacher Viaton’s leadership, we entered a luxury hotel.

But in the lobby, we met a not-so-welcome face.

“Hohoho, who might this be? Isn’t it Princess Isabel?”

It was Reina, the only daughter of the Duke Rossild family.

But Reina’s attitude and appearance were somehow awkward and unnatural.